David Ortiz likes hitting home runs a whole lot more than playing first base

‘Bobby [Valentine] needs me out there,’ the Red Sox slugger said after his team’s 10-2 spring training win over the Twins Monday night at Hammond Stadium. ‘It’s not my favorite thing to do.’

What Ortiz was talking about, of course, was playing first base. The Red Sox’ second Grapefruit League game of spring training marked the second time the DH has played the field, this time surviving five innings ‘ and two massive pop-ups which he caught cleanly ‘ before breathing a sigh of relief.

‘I think I have a couple of more times in me,’ he said. ‘We’ll see.’

The thinking behind Valentine putting Ortiz in the field ‘ which the manager said most likely won’t be reoccurring in the coming days ‘ was to offer a pre-emptive strike if the 36-year-old is pressed into action during interleague play.

The naysayers point to the risk Valentine is running in putting his $14.575 million slugger in harm’s way. But for Ortiz, potential injury doesn’t even factor into the equation. In fact, because of his weight loss this offseason he has managed to survive the extra time on his feet

‘I feel fine. It doesn’t bother me at all. Just something you have to get used to,’ he said. ‘I just don’t want to see [Joe] Mauer or [Justin] Morneau hitting a rocket down there and kill me. At least I survived two monster fly balls.

‘I still move pretty good at first base, and everything I can catch I can handle. My problem is getting used to that diving thing. The last time I dove on a baseball field was trying to get out of way.’

Not only did Ortiz weather the storm of fielding practice, but he has seemingly started going down the right road when it comes to the chief portion of his game ‘ swinging the bat.

He managed two hits Monday night, including a home run over the right field wall. And in the last at-bat, he narrowly missed an opposite field bomb.

After a few slow starts in spring training (remember Ortiz reminding writers they don’t put spring training stats on the back of baseball cards after starting 0-for-17?) he has seemingly found a groove when it comes to preparation.

‘I focus more on working on my mechanics and stuff in spring training and then just doing what I did tonight,’ Ortiz said. ‘The reason why we have spring training, especially for a guy like me, is to get prepared for the season. I tried to put some good swings out there when I’m playing but what I really want to do is make sure my timing, my foot is down on time and I can see pitches and read pitches good and be ready to go for the season.

‘I already told Bobby I’m going to do what I did last year, play more, I don’t mind if he sends me on the road or whatever, so I can get some playing time. Last year that helped me out a lot.’

And his new manager is also like he has seen from the Red Sox’ new part-time first baseman.

‘I loved him. You know, really, he swung the bat extremely well,’ said Valentine of Ortiz’ performance. ‘He swung at the first pitch, was right on it both times, fouled it off, made the adjustment, hit the ball hard. Fought a popup. Stretched and made the third out on a play, third to first base. Has energy. Is bouncing around nicely. He thinks he needs to gain a little weight because that ball didn’t go out to left field but we’ll keep that thought out of his mind.’